Typhoon Melor: Plan International Begins Response

With Typhoon Melor currently wreaking floods, landslides, intense winds and heavy rain across the Philippines, Plan International has begun an initial humanitarian response to distribute emergency aid to communities affected by the storm and assess the extent of the damage.

Typhoon Melor (named “Nona” in the Philippines) made landfall on Monday December 14 and is currently proceeding over the central provinces in the Philippines. Some of the areas of landfall were also severely affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and are still recovering from that devastating storm.

Plan International was at the forefront of the international response to Haiyan, and is in position to be a leader in the response to Typhoon Melor.

Child protection

Dennis O’Brien, Country Director for Plan International Philippines, says: “Many of the areas affected by this storm are already grappling with chronic poverty and the effects from Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Damage to their houses, to schools and to people’s livelihoods have an amplified effect on communities that are already poor and living close to the margins.”

“We know from experience that it is crucial to get emergency aid into the affected areas as soon as possible. Our priorities will be the distribution of emergency aid that we have pre-positioned in vulnerable areas, and our teams are already planning to get these urgent supplies to those who need it most.”

“We are very concerned about the needs and protection of children in affected areas. When storms like this hit, children can be separated from their families, their homes can be damaged and destroyed, and they can be displaced from their communities. Ensuring children’s health and safety during and after an emergency is among Plan International Philippines’ top priorities.”

Emergency aid to communities

Schools have been closed in 16 provinces until the storm has passed and damage assessments can be conducted. Plan International will work with government authorities to help assess school safety so that classes, and children’s education, can return to normal as soon as it is safe.

Plan International Philippines has pre-positioned emergency aid in vulnerable areas in order to ensure that aid can get to where it is needed most as soon as possible following an emergency such as this. Supplies are already on their way to response teams in affected areas.

Plan International has programmes and field offices in several of the areas affected by Typhoon Melor. There are over 100 staff on the ground who are experienced in emergency response and are currently working with government authorities to assess damage distribute aid.

Representatives from Plan International are available for interviews by phone or skype.

Plan International will have photography and testimonials from affected areas as soon as connectivity is established with field offices. These will be made available to the media.